As the second innings began, GT were in a commanding position having taken the wickets of both RR openers. It was at this point that Hardik Pandya, the captain of GT, decided to try and unsettle his opposite number, Sanju Samson. While Mohammed Shami was returning to his bowling mark during the powerplay, Hardik whispered a few words in Samson’s ears. Although Samson did not appreciate this, he chose to respond with the bat later in the match.
The Royals had a tough time during the game, losing four wickets for just 66 runs in a chase of 178. They needed a special partnership to stay in the game, and Shimron Hetmyer and skipper Samson himself stepped up to the challenge. As the required run rate began to climb, Samson took matters into his own hands and hit three back-to-back sixes in Rashid Khan’s over, giving the Royals a much-needed boost.
Both Samson and Hetmyer continued to play aggressively, bringing the required run rate down to 11 from 14. Samson played an exceptional knock scoring 60 runs off just 32 balls before eventually getting out. However, Hetmyer kept his cool and remained unbeaten on 56 off 26, helping the Royals secure a thrilling victory with four balls to spare.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.